Toolholder

ABSTRACT

A toolholder for mounting inner and outer telescoping tools comprising a body having a cavity therein and structure for mounting the outer tool. A member is provided in the cavity and the inner tool is connected to the member for movement therewith. The member can be retained in a working position in which the inner tool is in position to perform a work operation and a grinding position in which the inner tool is withdrawn from the working position.

United States Patent Vinson i 1 TOOLHOLDER [72] Inventor: Paul Vinson, Orange,Calif.

[73] Vinson Industries, Inc., Orange,

Cuiiii July 9, 1970 Assignee:

Filed:

Appi. No.:

US. Cl ..72/482, 76/101 R, 83/687 Int. Cl ..B2ld 37/00, B2lk 21/00 Field of Search ..83/62l, 622, 686, 687, 698,

[451 Oct. 17,1972

Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner--R. M. Rogers Attorney-Smyth, Roston & Pavirtt [57] ABSTRACT [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 22 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 2,299,534 10/1942 DeLorme ..83/686 (51511 53 @"t mw 39 I /r l 39 1/ 0" l .15 1 i l 1 e 1 *u I I 45 i 39 i \UF 'k.

rcc I \4 .L)

TOOLHOLDER As is well known, a press can be used to perform work operations on various materials including sheet material. A press typically includes a ram or similar reciprocating member to which appropriate tools are drivingly connected. The reciprocating member is repeatedly reciprocated toward and away from the work to repeatedly perform work operations thereon.

The tools are usually mounted on the reciprocating member of a toolholder or a punchholder. A toolholder must rigidly and accurately support the tools in predetermined positions.

The tools become worn as a result of use and eventually must be reground or replaced. Heretofore, such regrinding operation could be carried out only after the toolholder was taken down and the tools removed therefrom.

In performing many work operations, it is desirable if the press would operate a large number of tools so that many work operations can be carried out simultaneously. For example, in blanking out parts, the operation can be materially speeded up if a large number of blanking punches can be operated simultaneously by the same toolholder. Ostensibly it would appear to be a simple matter to merely align a large number of blanking punches with corresponding dies so that multiple blanking operations could be accomplished simultaneously. However, it is virtually impossible to align a large number of punches and dies properly when the part which is being formed must be held to close tolerances.

The present invention provides a toolholder which materially facilitates the regrinding operation and also makes replacement of at least some of the tools much easier. Specifically, the regrinding operation is carried out without removing the tools from the toolholder. Moreover, the present invention provides for axial adjustment of the tools relative to the toolholder. The present invention also provides a toolholder which permits accurate individual alignment of the tools carried thereby with cooperating tools mounted on the press.

According to one feature of the present invention, the toolholder includes a body having aperture means therein with a first group of tools extending through the aperture means. The cross sectional area of the aperture means is sufficiently large relative to the tools passing therethrough to permit generally lateral movement of the tools relative to the body. Such relative lateral movement can be utilized to align these tools with cooperating tools carried by other suitable supporting structure. Once the tools have been appropriately aligned, a flowable hardenable substance is poured over portions of the tools and of the body and such substance is allowed to harden to thereby fix the tools relative to the body. Accordingly, a large number of tools can be utilized without alignment problems and close tolerances can be maintained.

In order to facilitate positioning of the tools relative to the body, it is desirable to provide cooperating means on the body and the tools which retains the tools against movement in one generally axial direction relative to the body. This can be provided, for example, by a shoulder on each of the tools of such a dimension that it will not pass through the aperture means. The aperture means preferably includes a separate passage for each of the tools.

To provide a more effective rigid connection between the body and the tools, the body preferably defines a cavity communicating with or forming a portion of the aperture means. The flowable hardenable substance is poured into the cavity and allowed to harden over a portion of the tools to form a matrix. The cavity confines the matrix and the matrix in turn confines the tools over which it is cast.

To further improve the connection, it is preferred to provide the tool with a surface irregularity into which the matrix material can flow to thereby interlock with the too]. To further improve the connection, the portion of the tool engaging the matrix is preferably of enlarged surface area to thereby increase the bearing area between the matrix and the tool. This can be accomplished by providing the tool with a relatively enlarged head portion located in the cavity and of too large a cross sectional area to pass through the aperture for such tool.

Another feature of this invention is the axial adjustability of the tools carried by the toolholder. This feature of the invention is particularly adapted for mounting inner and outer telescoping punches, although its use is not necessarily so limited.

Each of the punches has a working face with the working face of the inner punch projecting beyond the working face of the outer punch in the working position. In the working position, the working faces of the punches have a predetermined orientation relative to each other, but as the punches become worn this orientation changes.

The present invention provides means for adjusting the relative axial positions of the inner and outer punches. This is extremely useful because it permits axial withdrawal of the inner punch relative to the outer punch until the working faces of the two punches are substantially flush, following which all of the punches can be rapidly ground until their working faces are flush. Next the operator merely returns the punches to the working position. Moreover, this feature allows relative axial adjustment of the punches to thereby provide for greater flexibility in the work operations performed by the punches.

According to the present invention, this feature can be implemented in two different ways. According to the first method, when it is desired to regrind the working faces, the toolholder is detached from the press and placed in a predetermined orientation on a chuck or other suitable surface. The toolholder holds the outer punch in position and allows retraction of the inner punch a predetermined amount to a grinding position. The grinding operation is carried out with the punches in the grinding position and thereafter the punches are returned to the working position to thereby reestablish the proper relative orientation between the working surfaces.

To implement this concept, the toolholder preferably includes a body having a cavity therein and a first calibrating surface. Means are provided in the body for mounting the outer tool in fixed relationship to the body with the tubular tool projecting from the body. The inner body is telescoped within the outer tool and is connected to a member which is movable within the cavity of the body. The member has a second calibrating surface thereon.

The member can be releasably retained in a working position within the cavity in which the punches are in position to perform a work operation. By releasing the member and positioning it on a chuck having first and second reference surfaces, the first and second calibrating surfaces can be moved into contact with the reference surfaces, respectively. The relative position of the punches when the reference surfaces and the calibrating surfaces are in contact may be, for example, a grinding position in which the working faces of both of the tools can be ground.

To facilitate the grinding operation, the working faces are preferably ground off flush whereupon the member can be easily returned to the working position to thereby reestablish the desired relative orientation between the working faces. The distance between the working and grinding positions is the same as the desired distance between the working faces of the punches in the working position thereof. With this arrangement the punches can be ground without removing them from the toolholder. The toolholder may then be reinstalled in the platen and the punches can be used without preliminary aligning or adjusting techniques.

Another advantage of the above-described manner of retracting the inner punches is that it virtually eliminates workmens error in that inversion of the toolholder automatically results in movement of the inner punch to the grinding position. According to a second aspect of this invention, the axial position of the inner and outer punches can be adjusted to any one of a large number of relative positions. This offers the advantage of added flexibility but requires that the workmen exercise appropriate care in making the axial adjustment.

To implement this latter concept, the outer punch is mounted on the body and the inner punch is mounted on a mounting member. The mounting member is mounted on the body for movement relative thereto with the inner punch projecting into the outer punch as described hereinabove. The relative position of the mounting member and the body, and hence the relative axial positions of the punches, can be adjusted by moving of suitable adjustment means. The adjustment means may include cooperative threaded members.

According to a preferred construction of the present invention, the body includes a bottom wall and generally opposed side walls. An inner plate cooperates with the body to define a first chamber and one or more tubular tools, which may be in the form of punches, project from the chamber through the bottom wall. The inner plate has a port therein through which the low melting point alloy may be poured into the chamber to retain the tubular punches in position. The first plate has a bore to receive the upper end of the tubular punch to prevent flow of the low melting point alloy into the tubular punch. The inner plate is releasably connected to the body as by one or more screws.

An intermediate plate and an outer member within the cavity define a second chamber. These members are releasably connected together and the inner punch is connected thereto by a low melting point alloy for movement therewith.

The outer punch can be accurately aligned with its die cavity as described above and the low melting point alloy is poured into the chamber containing the head of the outer punch and upon solidifying of the alloy, the outer punch is firmly retained in the proper position in the toolholder and relative to the die cavity. The inner punch can then be slid through the necessary bore or bores in the toolholder and the outer punch. The alignment of the inner punch is assured by virtue of the close tolerance between its outside diameter and the inside diameter of the outer punch. The low melting point alloy is then poured into the second chamber to accurately and rapidly mount the inner punch in position. The low melting point alloy facilitates both mounting and removal of the punches.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a toolholder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 and showing the toolholder affixed to a platen or other member of a press. The toolholder is in the working position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the toolholder connected to a platen or other member of a press. 1

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a preferred form of inner and outer telescoping punches and portions of the adjacent structure of the toolholder.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a second form of tooling which may be utilized with the toolholder of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1 with the toolholder removed from the platen and inverted to. put the punches in a grinding position.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a second form of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view partially in section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, reference numeral 11 designates a toolholder or a punchholder which is utilized to hold or mount a plurality of telescoping punch sets 13. The punchholder 11 includes a body 15 having a bottom wall 17 and opposed side walls 19 and 21 to thereby give the body a generally channel-shaped cross sectional as shown in FIG. 2. Although different constructions could be employed, in the embodiment illustrated the side walls 19 and 21 are generally parallel and extend generally perpendicularly to the plane of the bottom wall 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the opposite ends of the body 15 are open.

The body 15 has a pair of spaced parallel shoulders 23 and 25 for supporting an inner plate 27. The inner plate 27 is retained in position by one or more screws 29 which pass through the inner plate 27 and are received within the body 15. The body 15 and the inner plate 27 cooperate to define a chamber 31, access to which is provided by one or more ports 33 in the plate 27.

An intermediate plate 35 is connected to a cover plate 37 by a plurality of screws 39. The cover plate 37 has an upper face or calibrating surface 41 and the upper ends of the heads of the screws 39 lie below the calibrating surface. Although the calibrating surface 41 could be of various shapes, it is preferably an accurately established'planar surface retainable in a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2.

The intermediate plate 35 has a cut out region to thereby define along with the cover plate 37 a chamber 43. One or more ports 45 provide access to the chamber 43.

The plates 35 and 37 preferably form a sliding fit with the inner surfaces of the side walls 19 and 21. In the position shown in FIG. 2, the plates 35 and 37 are in a lower or working position in which a lower surface 47 of the plate 35 rests upon and is supported by an upper surface 49 of the inner plate 27. Accordingly, the contact between the surfaces 47 and 49 establishes the working position shown in FIG. 2 and accordingly it is important that the surfaces 47 and 49 be accurately and properly ground to thereby accurately establish the working position. Although the configuration of the surfaces 47 and 49 can be other than that illustrated, in the embodiment shown, each of these surfaces is planar and parallel to the calibrating surface 41.

Although many different forms of releasable means may be utilized to retain the plates 35 and 37 within the body 15, in the embodiment illustrated, a platen 51 of a press is utilized for this purpose. Alternatively, various other members associated with the platen or ram of the press may be utilized. In the embodiment illustrated, the platen 51 is secured to the body by a plurality of screws 53 (only one being shown in FIG. 2).

Each of the side walls 19 and 21 have coplanar calibrating surfaces 55 extending longitudinally therealong preferably for the full length of the side walls. As explained more fully hereinbelow, it is important that the calibrating surfaces 55 bear a predetermined relationship relative to the calibrating surface 41, and in the embodiment illustrated these calibrating surfaces are parallel. The side walls 19 and 21 also have inner upper surfaces 57 which are separated from the calibrating surfaces 55, respectively, by a vertical shoulder 59. In the embodiment illustrated, the surfaces 57 are parallel to each other and coplanar with the calibrating surface 41 when the device is in the working position shown in FIG. 2.

The platen 51 has a protruding planar face 61 which bears against the calibrating surface 41 in the working position to thereby firmly retain the plates 35 and 37 in position. The shoulders 59 and a dowel pin '(not shown) orient the punchholder 11 relative to the platen 51. The head of the screws 39 are beneath the calibrating surface 41 as shown in FIG. 2. With the surfaces 57 being coplanar with the calibrating surface 41, the protruding face 61 also bears on the surfaces 57 in the working position shown in FIG. 2.

Although various forms of tooling can be utilized with the punchholder 11, it is particularly adapted for use with one or more punch sets 13 of the type shown in FIG. 4. Any number of the punch sets 13 may be utilized and they may be provided in any pattern desired. In the embodiment illustrated, two longitudinally extending rows of the punch sets 13 are provided (FIG.

1). Preferably the punch sets 13 are arranged symmet rically about a center line extending longitudinally through the punchholder l1.

With reference to FIG. 4, each of the punch sets 13 includes an inner punch 63 and an outer or tubular punch 65. The punches 63 and 65 can be constructed from the many suitable material such as tool grade steel, tungsten carbide, etc.

The outer punch 65 includes a head 67 and a tubular shank 69 which terminates downwardly in an annular working face 71, it being understood that the working face 71 may be of other configurations. The head 67 is of significantly larger cross sectional area than the shank 69. Although the shank 69 may be of various sizes and configurations, in the embodiment illustrated it is cylindrical and has an axial cylindrical passage 73 extending therethrough. An end portion 75 of the shank 69 projects upwardly above the head 67. The head 67 is suitably affixed to the shank 69 as by braze material 76 located in a cavity at the upper end of the head.

The inner punch 63 includes a stem or shank 77 and a head 79 of significantly larger cross sectional area than the shank 77. The head 79 is suitably affixed to the shank 77. The shank 77 terminates downwardly in a circular working face 81, it being understood that the working face 81 may be of various: sizes and configurations. Preferably the cross sectional configuration of the shank 77 conforms to the cross sectional configura tion of the passage 73 and accordingly the shank 77 in the embodiment illustrated is cylindrical. The shank 77 is slidably received in the passage 73 of the outer punch 67 with the tolerances on the diameters of the shank 77 and the passage 73 being relatively close so that the outer punch can accurately guide and locate the punch 63. A tip portion 83 of the shank 77 projects beyond the working face 71 to thereby expose the working face 81.

The bottom wall 17 has a cylindrical bore 85 therein through which the shank 69 projects. The bore 85 is of larger cross sectional area than the shank 69 so that the punch 65 can be moved laterally or radially in the bore 85 relative to the bottom wall 17. The bore 85 is substantially smaller in diameter than the head 67 so that the latter rests on the upper surface of the bottom wall 17.

Similarly, the intermediate plate 35 has a counterbore 87 which receives the upper end of the end por' tion 75. The bore 85 and'the counterbore 87 are of larger cross sectional areas than the portions of the shank 69 which are received therein. Accordingly, the punch 65 can be moved radially or laterally in the bores 85 and 87 relative to the bottom wall 17 and the intermediate plate 35. This ability of the punchholder 11 to accommodate lateral movement of the punch 65 relative thereto can be utilized to provide final alignment of the punch 67 with a die cavity of a die plate (not shown). As this will be used only for final alignment purposes, it is only necessary that the bore 85 and 87 be a few thousandths larger in diameter than the adjacent portions of the shank 69.

Similarly, the plate 35 has a bore 89 therein through which the shank 77 passes. The bore 89 is slightly larger in cross sectional area than the shank 77 to thereby permit the shank to move laterally or radially in the bore relative to the plate 35. This permits the punch 63 to be moved laterally. The head 79 rests on the bottom surface of the chamber 43.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the heads 67 and 79 are in the chambers 31 and 43, respectively. The heads 67 and 79 are held in position by matrices 93 and 95, respectively, which preferably completely fill their respective chambers to thereby firmly lock the punches 63 and 65 in position. The matrices 93 and 95 are preferably of a low melting point alloy of the type which melts, for example, in the range from about 155 F. to about 285 F. Preferably the low melting point alloy is of the type which expands when it cools. Such low melting point alloys are known and are available, for example, under the trademark Cerro-lo, Cerro-tru, Cerro-bend and Cerro-matrix. Such material is preferably cast in situ in the chambers 31 and 43 during assembly and set up on the punchholder 11. The ports 33 and 45 serve as openings through which the low melting point alloy may be poured.

The matrices 93 and 95 hold the punches 63 and 65 firmly in position. The enlarged heads 67 and 79 provide additional area for contact by the matrices 93 and 95, respectively, to thereby assure that the punches 63 and 65 will not be able to move once the low melting point alloy hardens.

The counterbore 87 extends above the upper level of the portion of the matrix 93 which is within the chamber 33 to thereby preclude the matrix material when it is in a liquid state from entering the upper end of the tubular outer punch 65.

In setting up the punchholder 11, the punches 65 are moved in their bores 85 and 87 to properly align them with die cavities (not shown), and when the proper alignment is obtained, the matrix 93 is cast by pouring the liquid matrix material through the port 33 while the punches 65 are held in the proper relationship. Next, the plates 35 and 37 and the punches 63 are positioned as shown in FIG. 2 and the matrix 95 is cast by pouring the liquid matrix material through the port 45. By properly positioning the outer punches 65, the inner punches 63 will be inherently properly positioned. The punchholder 11 can then be attached to the platen 51 by the screws 53 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. illustrates a second type of tooling which may be utilized with the punchholder of this invention. Fortions shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to portions shown in FIG. 4 are designated by corresponding reference numerals followed by the letter a.

FIG. 5 illustrates a punch set 130 which is identical to the punch set 13 except for the construction of the head 65a and the position of the solder material 7611. The head 67a includes a lower substantially cylindrical portion 97 and an upper extension 99 which, in the embodiment illustrated, is substantially cylindrical and of somewhat smaller outside diameter than the lower portion 97. The lower portion 97 is identical to the head 67 (FIG. 4) except that the braze material 76a is in a cavity at the lower end of the portion 97 as shown in FIG. 5. In other respects, the punch set 13a is identical to the punch set 13 described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 also shows a punchholder 11a which is identical to the punchholder l 1 shown in FIGS. l4 except in the respects noted herein. The punchholder 11a has a counterbore 87a which is larger than the counterbore 87 and which is sized to receive the upper end of the extension 99. The counterbore 87a loosely receives the extension 99 to permit slight lateral movement therebetween for the purposes described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 4. In all other respects, the punchholder 11a is identical to the punchholder 11.

One advantage of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is that the head 67a is larger than the head 67 to thereby provide more surface area for contacting the matrix 93a. One advantage of having the extension 99 be of smaller cross sectional area than the lower portion 97 is that this provides an upwardly facing shoulder 101 against which the matrix 93a may act to tightly hold the head 67a against the upper surface of the bottom wall 17a. The extension 99 also strengthens the end portion a of the outer punch 65a.

Another feature of the punchholder 11 is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the simultaneous grinding of both punches 63 and 65 of all of the punch sets 13 is illustrated without removing any of the punches from the punchholder and without melting of the matrices 93 and 95. The feature of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 is equally applicable to the construction shown in FIG. 5.

To move the punch sets 13 from the working position shown in FIG. 2 to the grinding position shown in FIG. 6, the screws 53 are loosened and the punchholder 11 is removed from the platen 51. This frees the plates 35 and 37 and the punches 63 for movement axially relatively to the remainder of the punchholder 11. The punchholder 11 is then inverted on a reference surface 103 of a chuck 105 or other suitable device. The inverting of the punchholder 11 causes the intermediate plates 35 and 37 and the punches 63 to move downwardly as a unit until the calibrating surface 41 engages the reference surface 103 to thereby form a gap 107 between the intermediate plate 35 and the inner plate 27. In the inverted or grinding position shown in FIG. 6, the calibrating surfaces 55 engage spaced portions of the reference surface 103, and the calibrating surface 41 engages a region of the reference surface 103 intermediate the calibrating surfaces 55.

The screws 29 retain the inner plate 27 and the outer punches 65 in the same relative position as they occupied in the working position shown in FIG. 2. However, because the inner punches 63 are slidably received within the outer punches 65, the inner punches 63 move downwardly with the plates 35 and 37. As the reference surface 103 is planar, the amount of such downward movement is equal to the vertical distance between the calibrating surfaces 55 and the calibrating surface 41 when the punchholder 11 is in the working position shown in FIG. 2. The reference surface need not be planar. For example, it could have a groove of a size to receive the plate 37, but too narrow to receive the calibrating surfaces 55. Thus, the amount of movement obtained is a function of the distance between the calibrating surfaces 41 and 55 in the working position (FIG. 2) and the particular configuration of the reference surface 103. In the embodiment illustrated, the reference surface 103 is an accurately formed planar surface.

Specifically with reference to the embodiment illustrated, the amount of such movement is equal to the dimension X which is the vertical dimension of the shoulder 59. Of course, the amount of movement obtainable can be varied depending upon the results desired.

With the punch sets 13 in the grinding position shown in FIG. 6, they can be ground off flush by any suitable grinding device 109 so that the working faces 71 and 81 thereof are flush. When the punchholder 11 is again installed on the platen 51 to thereby return the punch sets 13 to the working position (FIG. 2), the working face 81 projects axially beyond the working face 71 an amount equal to the X dimension. Accordingly, the axial spacing between the working faces 71 and 81 is accurately controlled.

It will be appreciated that the punches 63 and 65 of each of the punch sets 13 can be simultaneously ground. Furthermore, the grinding operation can be carried out without removing the punches 63 and 65 from the punchholder 11 or without removing any parts of the punchholder. This materially facilitates the grinding operation and reduces substantially the down time of the press with which such punchholder is utilized. Although the inner punches 63 move relative to the outer punches 65, it is not necessary to realign the punches as such realignment is automatically accomplished by the outer punches 65 which are retained in fixed position relative to the body 15 of the punchholder 11. It is also possible to replace a broken or damaged inner punch 63 without upsetting the critical alignment relationship between the punch sets 13 and their respective die cavities (not shown) because the outer punches 65 remain in fixed position and control the location of the inner punches 63. The broken inner punch 63 can be removed by simply removing the cover plate 37 and melting the matrix 95.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a second form of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, a platen 121 is mounted on a pair of platen posts 123 for generally vertical movement. Vertical motion may be imparted to the platen 121 through the platen posts 123 in any suitable manner such as by the presses shown in either of my two copending applications entitled Shuttle Press and assigned Ser. Nos. 33,592 and 46,009.

The platen 121 has a cutout section 125 for receiving a toolholder 127 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The toolholder 127 mounts a plurality of punch sets 129 with each of the punch sets including an outer punch 131 and an inner punch 133 telescoped within the outer punch substantially as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 4. Thus, the punch sets 129 may be identical to either of the punch sets shown in FIGS. 4 or 5 and may be arranged, for example, in two rows as described in connection with FIGS. 1-3. The punch sets 129 cooperate with a die 134 (FIG. 9) of suitable design. The die 134 is mounted on a suitable supporting structure (not shown).

The toolholder 127 includes a body 135 (FIG. 8) attached by a plurality of screws 137 (only one being shown in FIG. 8) to spaced, parallel web sections 139 of the platen 121, which web sections form, in effect, an extension of the body 135. The body 135 has a pair of spaced parallel shoulders 141 and 143 for supporting an inner plate 145 which is releasably mounted on the body by a plurality of screws 147. The body 135 and the inner plate cooperate to define a chamber 149 with the volume of such chamber being formed by a eutout section of the body.

An intermediate plate 151 is slidably received between the web sections 139 and is not affixed thereto nor to the body 135 or the inner plate145. A hollow outer member 153 having a passage or chamber 155 therein is attached to the intermediate plate 151 by a plurality of screws 157 with the intermediate plate serving to close the lower end of the chamber 15 5.

The outer member 153 and the intermediate plate 151 are mounted for movement in the cutout section 125 of the platen 121. The axial position of the outer member 153 in the cutout section 125 is controlled by two identical adjustment means 159. As shown in FIG. 8, each of the adjustment means 159 includes a shaft 161 suitably connected at its lower end to the body 135 and projecting upwardly through the adjacent web section 139 and through a flange 162 of the outer member 152. The shaft 161 terminates upwardly in a threaded section 165 and a nut 167 is mounted on the threaded section with the lower face of the nut bearing against the upper face of the flange 163. The web section 139 has a recess 169 therein for containing a coil compression spring 171 which bears against the undersurface of the flange 163 to urge the flange 163 against the nut 169. Accordingly, the axial position of the outer member 153 relative to the body 135 can be controlled by turning of the adjustment nut 167 of the adjustment means 159. In the position shown in FIG. 8, the adjust ment nuts 167 of both adjustment means 159 are turned down tightly to cause the undersurface of the flanges 163 to bear on the upper surfaces of the web sections 139, respectively.

A plurality of bores 173, 175 and 177 are provided in the body 135, the inner plate 145, and the intermediate plate 151, respectively, substantially as described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 1-5. These bores accommodate the punch sets 129 with a small amount of lateral clearance asdescribed in connection with FIGS. 1-5 to thereby permit lateral adjustment of the punch sets 129 with the cavities (not shown) of the die 134 (FIG. 9). The outer punches 131 are retained in position by a matrix 179 'of low melting point alloy in the chamber 149, and the inner punches are retained in position by their respective outer punches and by a matrix 181 of low melting point alloy in the chamber 155. As shown in FIG. 8 and as described in connection with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5, the enlarged heads of the outer punches 131 are located in the chamber 149 and cooperate with the matrix 179 while the heads of the inner punches 133 are located in the chamber 155 and cooperate with the matrix 181. The upper end portions of the stems of the outer punches 131 project upwardly into the bores 175 in the inner plate 145.

The chamber 155 has notches 183 for firmly anchoring the low melting point alloy therein. The plates 145 and 151 have aligned passages 185 (FIG. 8) therethrough for providing communication between the chambers 155 and 149 so that low melting point alloy poured into the chamber 155 will flow through the passage 185 into the chamber 149. With this arrangement, pouring of the low melting point alloy results in a rigid connection between the matrices 179 and 181. To disconnect or sever these matrices, the

body 135 has a groove 187 therein immediately beneath one of the web sections 139. The groove 187 is sized to permit the insertion of a knife therethrough to the interface between the plates 145 and 151 at the passage 185 to thereby permit cutting of the low melting point alloy in the passage at this interface.

Use of the toolholder 127 is similar to use of the toolholder described in FIGS. lexcept that the toolholder 127 need not be removed from the platen 121 in order to accomplish axial adjustment of the punches or to grind the punches. To adjust the relative axial positions of the punches 131 and 133, the operator turns the nuts 167 of the adjustment means 159 in a direction tending to remove them from their respective threaded sections 165. The springs 171 are then operative to urge the outer member 153 upwardly as the nuts 167 are backed off of their threaded sections 165. Because the intermediate member 151 is connected to the outer member 153 by the screws 157, it moves with the outer member. Likewise, the inner punches 133 move with the members 151 and 153 and the matrix 181 to thereby tend to axially withdraw the inner punches from the outer punches 131. When the inner punches 133 have been withdrawn the desired amount, such as to the point where their end faces are substantially flush with the end faces of the respective outer punches 131, all of the punches can be rapidly ground without even removing the toolholder 127 from the platen 121. Subsequently, by turning the nuts 167 downwardly on their respective threaded sections 165, the components of the device can be returned to the position shown in FIG. 8 or to any other axial position desired.

The platen 121 and the toolholder 127 can be used on presses of various types; however, they are particularly adapted for use on presses of the type described in my above identified patent applications. The platen 121 can also conveniently embody adjustable means 189 for adjusting the position of a primary pad 191 relative to the platen. Primary pad adjustment may be desirable, for example, following axial adjustment of the inner punches.

In the embodiment illustrated, the primary pad 191 is connected to the platen 121 by a pair of bolts 193 each of which has a nut 195 threadedly attached to the upper end thereof. The primary pad 191 is urged downwardly away from the platen 121 by a pair of springs 197 which surround the bolts 193, respectively. Thus, by adjusting the nuts 195, the position of the primary pad 191 relative to the platen 121 can be adjusted. The punch sets 129 project through the primary pad 191 and the primary pad serves the conventional function of clamping the work against the die 134. Other features such as a bolster pad adjustment feature of the type described in my latest filed Shuttle Press application can also be incorporated into the platen 121.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Iclaim:

1. A tool mounting system for use on a press or similar device comprising:

a body;

a generally tubular punch having a passage therethrough;

first means for mounting the tubular punch on said body with the tubular punch projecting from the body and terminating in an end face; a second punch; second means for mounting said second punch on the body for movement relative thereto with the second punch projecting into the tubular punch;

releasable means for holding the second punch in a first predetermined orientation relative to said tubular punch in which said second punch extends from said body through said tubular punch and projects beyond said tubular punch; and

third means responsive to the release of the releasable means and to the body being in a predetermined position for holding the second punch in a second predetermined orientation relative to said tubular punch in which said second punch extends from said body into said tubular punch, said second predetermined orientation being different from said first predetermined orientation.

2. A toolholder for holding first and second material working tools during the performance of work operations by said tools and cooperable with a block having first and second reference surfaces of known relative orientation to facilitate grinding of the tools comprismg:

a supporting structure having a first calibrating surface;

first means on said supporting structure for mounting the first tool thereon in fixed relationship to said supporting structure with the first tool projecting from said supporting structure;

second means including a member mounted on said supporting structure and movable with the second tool relative to said supporting structure for mounting the second tool for movement relative to the first tool, said member having a second calibrating surface;

third means engageable with said member for defining a working position of the tools in which the tools project from the supporting structure and are in position to perform a work operation;

said member being retainable in said working position and being movable with the second tool to a grinding position in which said first and second calibrating surfaces engage said first and second reference surfaces, respectively, to thereby establish a predetermined relationship of the tools for grinding thereof; and

said supporting structure including opposed side walls, each of said side walls having inner and outer upper end surfaces with said outer upper end surfaces defining said first calibrating surface, said inner upper end surfaces lying below said first calibrating surface when the tools project downwardly from said supporting structure, said second calibrating surface being substantially flush with said inner upper end surfaces in said working position.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the second punch moves along a path in moving from said first predetermined orientation to said second predetermined orientation, said path having a component extending downwardly.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasable means includes a platen of a press, said body being mountable on said platen.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular punch terminates in an end face and said second punch terminates in a working face which projects beyond said end face in said first predetermined orientation, said working face and said end face being substantially flush in said second predetermined orientation.

6. A tool mounting system for use in a press or similar device comprising:

a body at least partially defining a cavity;

a generally tubular tool having a passage therethrough and adapted to perform a work operation on sheet material;

first means for mounting the tubular tool on said body in fixed relationship therewith with the tubular tool projecting from the body and terminating in an end face, at least a portion of said tubular tool being in said cavity;

an inner tool;

a mounting member;

means for mounting said inner tool on said mounting member in fixed relationship therewith;

second means for mounting said mounting member on the body for movement relative thereto with the inner tool projecting into the tubular tool and being movable with the mounting member, said mounting member being at least partially in said cavity;

releasable means for fixing the mounting member in a fixed position relative to said body whereby the tools are retained in a first predetermined orientation in which said inner tool extends through said tubular tool and projects beyond said end face of said tubular tool;

said mounting member being movable relative to said body from said fixed position to a second posi tion when said releasable means is released to thereby move the inner tool to a second predetermined orientation relative to said tubular tool in which said inner tool extends into said tubular member, said second predetermined orientation being different from said first predetermined orientation; and

biasing means for urging said mounting member toward said second position.

7. A toolholder comprising:

a body including first and second peripheral wall sections and a bottom wall at least partially defining a cavity;

a first member in said cavity, said first member and said body defining a first chamber;

means for releasably mounting said first member on said body;

a tubular punch having a first portion in said first chamber, said tubular punch projecting through said bottom wall and terminating in a working face spaced from said bottom wall;

means in said first chamber cooperating with said first portion of said tubular punch to retain said tubular punch in position;

a second member releasably retainable in said cavity, said first member lying between the bottom wall and the second member, said second member being movable in said cavity in a direction generally toward and away from the bottom wall when it is not being retained; and

an inner punch telescoped within said outer punch;

means for mounting said inner punch for movement with said second member, said inner punch projecting through the first member and said tubular punch and terminating in a working face.

8. A toolholder as defined in claim 7 including means including said second member defining a second cavity, said inner punch having a first portion in said second cavity and said means for mounting said inner punch including means in said second cavity cooperating with said first portion of said inner punch.

9. A toolholder as defined in claim 7 wherein said means in said first chamber includes a low melting point alloy cast in situ.

10. A tool as defined in claim 6 wherein at least a portion of said mounting member is above said tubular tool.

11. A tool as defined in claim 6 including a primary pad mounted on said body for movement toward and away from said body, said primary pad depending from said body. v

12. A tool as defined in claim 6 wherein said body has generally opposed side walls and said mounting member includes flanges overlying said side walls, respectively, at least one screw for attaching one of said flanges to one of said side walls, said one side wall having a cavity therein, at least a portion of said biasing means being in said cavity of said one side wall.

13. A punchholder for use on a press or similar device comprising:

a body;

a generally tubular punch having a passage therethrough; V

first means for mounting the tubular punch on said body in fixed relationship therewith with the tubular punch projecting from the body and terminating in an end face;

an inner punch;

a mounting member;

means for mounting said inner punch on said mounting member in fixed relationship therewith;

threaded means for mounting said mounting member on the body, said threaded means normally fixing said tools in a working position in which said mounting member is clamped against said body and said inner punch projects from said tubular punch, said threaded means being loosenable to allow the mounting member to move away from the body to thereby adjust the extent to which the inner punch projects beyond the outer punch; and

biasing means for urging the mounting member away from the body.

14. A toolholder comprising:

a body having aperture means therein;

a plurality of tools, each of said tools having a working face, said tools projecting into said aperture means with said working faces being exposed, said aperture means being of sufficient cross sectional area to allow generally lateral. movement of said tools relative to said body to a preselected position;

cooperating means on said tools and said body for retaining said tools against movement in at least one generally axial direction relative to said body; and

a matrix cast in situ over a part of said tools and said body to thereby affix said tools in said preselected position.

15. A toolholder as defined in claim 14 wherein said cooperating means includes a surface of said body adjacent said aperture means and at least one shoulder on each of said tools engageable with said surface to prevent passage of said tools completely through said aperture means.

16. A toolholder as defined in claim 14 wherein said matrix covers at least a portion of said shoulders of said tools and said aperture means includes a plurality of apertures with said tools projecting through said apertures, respectively.

17. A tool set up method for a press for arranging a first group of tools in a predetermined orientation for cooperation with a second group of tools, said method comprising:

providing a body having aperture means therein;

inserting said first group of tools into said aperture means with said aperture means affording clearance for generally lateral movement of the tools of said first group relative to said body;

laterally positioning the tools of the first group of tools in said aperture means relative to said body to provide said predetermined orientation to thereby permit said first group of tools to cooperate with said second group of tools;

with said first group of tools in said predetermined orientation, pouring a flowable hardenable substance over at least preselected portions of said tools of said first group of tools and said body; and

allowing the flowable hardenable substance to harden to thereby fix said first group of tools relative to said body.

18. A toolholder of the type usable with a press comprising:

body means having a first chamber therein, said body means including a wall member at least partially defining said first chamber, said wall member having a bore therethrough;

a first punch having a head and a shank, said head being of larger cross sectional area than said shank and said shank terminating in a working face remote from said head;

said head being in said first chamber and said shank projecting through said bore to expose said working face outside of said first chamber;

the cross sectional area of said bore being larger than the cross sectional area of said punch to thereby permit said punch to move laterally in said bore relative to said wall member; and

a low melting point alloy in said first chamber and cooperating with said head to retain said first punch in a fixed position relative to said wall member.

19. A toolholder as defined in claim 15 wherein said first punch is a tubular punch and said body has a second chamber and a partition between said first and second chambers, said toolholder including an inner punch having a head and a shank, said inner punch terminating in a working face remote from said head of said inner punch, said partition having a bore therethrough providing communication between said first and second chambers, said head of said inner punch being in said second chamber and said shank extending through said bore of said partition and through said tubular punch, said bore in said partition having a larger cross sectional area than sa'd shank of said inner punch to thereby permit latera movement of said second punch in said bore relative to said partition, and a low melting point alloy in said second chamber cooperating with said head of said inner punch to retain said inner punch in position.

20. A toolholder as defined in claim 15 wherein said first chamber has an upper wall with a bore therein, said first punch being a tubular punch and having an end portion projecting upwardly from said head into said bore, an inner punch projecting through said tubular punch, and means for mounting said inner punch on said body.

21. A toolholder as defined in claim 15 wherein said head includes first and second portions defining a shoulder therebetween.

22. A toolholder comprising:

a body having aperture means therein;

a tubular tool, said tubular tool having a working face, said tubular tool projecting into said aperture means with said working face being exposed;

cooperating means on said tubular tool and said body for retaining said tubular tool against movement in at least one generally axial direction relative to said body;

a matrix cast in situ over a part of said tubular tool and said body to thereby affix said tubular tool in a preselected position relative to said body;

said tubular tool having a portion remote from said working face which projects out of said matrix; and

an inner tool projecting into said tubular tool from the end of said tubular tool remote from said working face.

* III 

1. A tool mounting system for use on a press or similar device comprising: a body; a generally tubular punch having a passage therethrough; first means for mounting the tubular punch on said body with the tubular punch projecting from the body and terminating in an end face; a second punch; second means for mounting said second punch on the body for movement relative thereto with the second punch projecting into the tubular punch; releasable means for holding the second punch in a first predetermined orientation relative to said tubular punch in which said second punch extends from said body through said tubular punch and projects beyond said tubular punch; and third means responsive to the release of the releasable means and to the body being in a predetermined position for holding the second punch in a second predetermined orientation relative to said tubular punch in which said second punch extends from said body into said tubular punch, said second predetermined orientation being different from said first predetermined orientation.
 2. A toolholder for holding first and second material working tools during the performance of work operations by said tools and cooperable with a block having first and second reference surfaces of known relative orientation to facilitate grinding of the tools comprising: a supporting structure having a first calibrating surface; first means on said supporting structure for mounting the first tool thereon in fixed relationship to said supporting structure with the first tool projecting from said supporting structure; second means including a member mounted on said supporting structure and movable with the second tool relative to said supporting structure for mounting the second tool for movement relative to the first tool, said member having a second calibrating surface; third means engageable with said member for defining a working position of the tools in which the tools project from the supporting structure and are in position to perform a work operation; said member being retainable in said working position and being movable with the second tool to a grinding position in which said first and second calibrating surfaces engage said first and second reference surfaces, respectively, to thereby establish a predetermined relationship of the tools for grinding thereof; and said supporting structure including opposed side walls, each of said Side walls having inner and outer upper end surfaces with said outer upper end surfaces defining said first calibrating surface, said inner upper end surfaces lying below said first calibrating surface when the tools project downwardly from said supporting structure, said second calibrating surface being substantially flush with said inner upper end surfaces in said working position.
 3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the second punch moves along a path in moving from said first predetermined orientation to said second predetermined orientation, said path having a component extending downwardly.
 4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasable means includes a platen of a press, said body being mountable on said platen.
 5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular punch terminates in an end face and said second punch terminates in a working face which projects beyond said end face in said first predetermined orientation, said working face and said end face being substantially flush in said second predetermined orientation.
 6. A tool mounting system for use in a press or similar device comprising: a body at least partially defining a cavity; a generally tubular tool having a passage therethrough and adapted to perform a work operation on sheet material; first means for mounting the tubular tool on said body in fixed relationship therewith with the tubular tool projecting from the body and terminating in an end face, at least a portion of said tubular tool being in said cavity; an inner tool; a mounting member; means for mounting said inner tool on said mounting member in fixed relationship therewith; second means for mounting said mounting member on the body for movement relative thereto with the inner tool projecting into the tubular tool and being movable with the mounting member, said mounting member being at least partially in said cavity; releasable means for fixing the mounting member in a fixed position relative to said body whereby the tools are retained in a first predetermined orientation in which said inner tool extends through said tubular tool and projects beyond said end face of said tubular tool; said mounting member being movable relative to said body from said fixed position to a second position when said releasable means is released to thereby move the inner tool to a second predetermined orientation relative to said tubular tool in which said inner tool extends into said tubular member, said second predetermined orientation being different from said first predetermined orientation; and biasing means for urging said mounting member toward said second position.
 7. A toolholder comprising: a body including first and second peripheral wall sections and a bottom wall at least partially defining a cavity; a first member in said cavity, said first member and said body defining a first chamber; means for releasably mounting said first member on said body; a tubular punch having a first portion in said first chamber, said tubular punch projecting through said bottom wall and terminating in a working face spaced from said bottom wall; means in said first chamber cooperating with said first portion of said tubular punch to retain said tubular punch in position; a second member releasably retainable in said cavity, said first member lying between the bottom wall and the second member, said second member being movable in said cavity in a direction generally toward and away from the bottom wall when it is not being retained; and an inner punch telescoped within said outer punch; means for mounting said inner punch for movement with said second member, said inner punch projecting through the first member and said tubular punch and terminating in a working face.
 8. A toolholder as defined in claim 7 including means including said second member defining a second cavity, said inner punch having a first portion in said second cavity and Said means for mounting said inner punch including means in said second cavity cooperating with said first portion of said inner punch.
 9. A toolholder as defined in claim 7 wherein said means in said first chamber includes a low melting point alloy cast in situ.
 10. A tool as defined in claim 6 wherein at least a portion of said mounting member is above said tubular tool.
 11. A tool as defined in claim 6 including a primary pad mounted on said body for movement toward and away from said body, said primary pad depending from said body.
 12. A tool as defined in claim 6 wherein said body has generally opposed side walls and said mounting member includes flanges overlying said side walls, respectively, at least one screw for attaching one of said flanges to one of said side walls, said one side wall having a cavity therein, at least a portion of said biasing means being in said cavity of said one side wall.
 13. A punchholder for use on a press or similar device comprising: a body; a generally tubular punch having a passage therethrough; first means for mounting the tubular punch on said body in fixed relationship therewith with the tubular punch projecting from the body and terminating in an end face; an inner punch; a mounting member; means for mounting said inner punch on said mounting member in fixed relationship therewith; threaded means for mounting said mounting member on the body, said threaded means normally fixing said tools in a working position in which said mounting member is clamped against said body and said inner punch projects from said tubular punch, said threaded means being loosenable to allow the mounting member to move away from the body to thereby adjust the extent to which the inner punch projects beyond the outer punch; and biasing means for urging the mounting member away from the body.
 14. A toolholder comprising: a body having aperture means therein; a plurality of tools, each of said tools having a working face, said tools projecting into said aperture means with said working faces being exposed, said aperture means being of sufficient cross sectional area to allow generally lateral movement of said tools relative to said body to a preselected position; cooperating means on said tools and said body for retaining said tools against movement in at least one generally axial direction relative to said body; and a matrix cast in situ over a part of said tools and said body to thereby affix said tools in said preselected position.
 15. A toolholder as defined in claim 14 wherein said cooperating means includes a surface of said body adjacent said aperture means and at least one shoulder on each of said tools engageable with said surface to prevent passage of said tools completely through said aperture means.
 16. A toolholder as defined in claim 14 wherein said matrix covers at least a portion of said shoulders of said tools and said aperture means includes a plurality of apertures with said tools projecting through said apertures, respectively.
 17. A tool set up method for a press for arranging a first group of tools in a predetermined orientation for cooperation with a second group of tools, said method comprising: providing a body having aperture means therein; inserting said first group of tools into said aperture means with said aperture means affording clearance for generally lateral movement of the tools of said first group relative to said body; laterally positioning the tools of the first group of tools in said aperture means relative to said body to provide said predetermined orientation to thereby permit said first group of tools to cooperate with said second group of tools; with said first group of tools in said predetermined orientation, pouring a flowable hardenable substance over at least preselected portions of said tools of said first group of tools and said body; and allowing the flowable hardenable substance to harden to thereby Fix said first group of tools relative to said body.
 18. A toolholder of the type usable with a press comprising: body means having a first chamber therein, said body means including a wall member at least partially defining said first chamber, said wall member having a bore therethrough; a first punch having a head and a shank, said head being of larger cross sectional area than said shank and said shank terminating in a working face remote from said head; said head being in said first chamber and said shank projecting through said bore to expose said working face outside of said first chamber; the cross sectional area of said bore being larger than the cross sectional area of said punch to thereby permit said punch to move laterally in said bore relative to said wall member; and a low melting point alloy in said first chamber and cooperating with said head to retain said first punch in a fixed position relative to said wall member.
 19. A toolholder as defined in claim 15 wherein said first punch is a tubular punch and said body has a second chamber and a partition between said first and second chambers, said toolholder including an inner punch having a head and a shank, said inner punch terminating in a working face remote from said head of said inner punch, said partition having a bore therethrough providing communication between said first and second chambers, said head of said inner punch being in said second chamber and said shank extending through said bore of said partition and through said tubular punch, said bore in said partition having a larger cross sectional area than said shank of said inner punch to thereby permit lateral movement of said second punch in said bore relative to said partition, and a low melting point alloy in said second chamber cooperating with said head of said inner punch to retain said inner punch in position.
 20. A toolholder as defined in claim 15 wherein said first chamber has an upper wall with a bore therein, said first punch being a tubular punch and having an end portion projecting upwardly from said head into said bore, an inner punch projecting through said tubular punch, and means for mounting said inner punch on said body.
 21. A toolholder as defined in claim 15 wherein said head includes first and second portions defining a shoulder therebetween.
 22. A toolholder comprising: a body having aperture means therein; a tubular tool, said tubular tool having a working face, said tubular tool projecting into said aperture means with said working face being exposed; cooperating means on said tubular tool and said body for retaining said tubular tool against movement in at least one generally axial direction relative to said body; a matrix cast in situ over a part of said tubular tool and said body to thereby affix said tubular tool in a preselected position relative to said body; said tubular tool having a portion remote from said working face which projects out of said matrix; and an inner tool projecting into said tubular tool from the end of said tubular tool remote from said working face. 